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620 CKRM Regina, a country music station that also does the WHL's Regina Pats games transmitted all the way to North Dakota and Montana in the station's reach, calls the Roughriders ride to certain Grey Cup victory highlights versus Hamilton that concluded an incredible Roughriders season

Chris Berman presents his annual Grey Cup report on ESPN after the Saskatchewan Roughriders win the Grey Cup in front of their sea of green at Mosiac Stadium, even when the Grey Cup came down carried by the Mounties with the game well decided by then.

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620 CKRM Regina, a country music station that also does the WHL's Regina Pats games transmitted all the way to North Dakota and Montana in the station's reach, calls the Roughriders ride to certain Grey Cup victory highlights versus Hamilton that concluded an incredible Roughriders season

Chris Berman presents his annual Grey Cup report on ESPN after the Saskatchewan Roughriders win the Grey Cup in front of their sea of green at Mosiac Stadium, even when the Grey Cup came down carried by the Mounties with the game well decided by then.

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620 CKRM Regina, a country music station that also does the WHL's Regina Pats games transmitted all the way to North Dakota and Montana in the station's reach along with Saskatchewan's football pride, calls the Roughriders ride to certain Grey Cup victory highlights versus Hamilton that concluded an incredible Roughriders season

Chris Berman presents his annual Grey Cup report on ESPN after the Saskatchewan Roughriders win the Grey Cup in front of their sea of green at Mosiac Stadium, even when the Grey Cup came down carried by the Mounties with the game well decided by then.

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Can't forget the Telus Vanier Cup that the Laval Rouge et Or successfully defended against the Calgary Dinos on their home Quebec City turf! The sights and sounds there, mostly in the pregame, were recorded by Laval's women's soccer coach Helder Duarte, who even spotted a few of his players at the stadium.

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Tomorrow will see for the right to go Vancouver next week another chapter in that fierce Battle of Alberta between Calgary Stampeders and the Edmonton Eskimos at McMahon Stadium in Calgary, Alberta. Leaving a province divided. Before that, could we see Montreal's remarkable turnaround continue from the beginning of the season and overpower the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at the newly-reburbished Tim Horton Field? Lately there's been some trash talking from the Montreal side with Hamilton being silent.

Head Coach Mike Benevides and the British Columbia Lions have parted ways. More to come Monday.

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Has to an incredible thing to see the Ottawa RedBlacks make it to its first ever Grey Cup in only its second year of existence on its amazing ride. Certainly that doesn't happen with many pro sports leagues with young teams. Helps if said leagues like the CFL and MLS would have not as many franchises in its stable that you see from the Big Four. Still learning about them in this time period. Alltime, including the beloved Ottawa Rough Riders and the defunct Ottawa Renegades that never even came close to appearing in the Grey Cup, this is Ottawa's 16th Grey Cup appearance. It was essentially worst to first at 12-6, culminating in clinching the East title at the renovated Frank Clair Stadium (TD Place Stadium) yesterday afternoon over Hamilton Tiger-Cats, another team now playing in a renovated stadium (Ivor Wynne/Tim Horton's Stadium). Ottawa's posesses a high-octane offense and it shows here with QB Henry Burris throwing six TDs, three to WR Greg Ellingson. If Hamilton not dropped the ball very late on the interception before that, Hamilton would have field goal range and would've ended things. Dramatic and offense-friendly all the way on the way to Winnipeg to the 103rd Grey Cup.

Another battle of Alberta in the CFL. And when those two teams based in this oil-rich province, it will always be hard-fought and closely-contested. This was no exception here up in Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium, that recently hosted some FIFA 2015 Women's World Cup soccer games. First time in 12 years. In any case, the northern men in green and gold get another opportunity to win its 14th Grey Cup in Winnipeg over the defending CFL champs Calgary Stampeders. Will the fans there side with them as the Eskimos channels the recently-rich Grey Cup legacy like from the late 1970s and early 1980s when it was with coach Hugh Campbell and Warren Moon as Edmonton was rightfully "the city of champions"? More offense here in the West Final than the East version.

Stage is now set in Winnipeg for the 103rd Grey Cup, first to host since 2006, this US Thanksgiving weekend. Wonder if new PM Justin Trudeau will be on hand to help lift the trophy like several PMs in the past did?

Now if we can get a CFL video game or incorporated onto Madden (highly unlikely there)...

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Over a month ago (sorry for the delay in the update). Started off well in the beginning for Ottawa and had the lead in Winnipeg for the 103rd Grey Cup. But the Eskimos channeled all that Grey Cup championship heritage like with that late 4th quarter touchdown as the game went on for Edmonton's 14th, second-most behind the Toronto Argonauts:

If you noticed, the CFL now has a new logo, its 4th overall in 60 years, and new look website right around Grey Cup time. Actually like the previous one that was used for a decade better. Maybe the new one will grow on me:

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Just seeing this thread and hearing about the Redblacks for the first time. Dafuck is a Redblack? Can't they just be the roughriders like everybody else?

A nod to the red and black colors that are commonplace to almost all of Ottawa's sports team like the Carleton Ravens, Ottawa Senators, Ottawa Fury, and of course the Ottawa Rough Riders/Renegades. Would be nice if they brought it back since it still resonates highly around Ottawa but Saskatchewan, in this era of trademark/brand protection, strongly won't allow that. Besides, the owners wanted to do so but had to comply with the late reclusive owner Horn Chen's asking price that they knew about, who had already sold the Rough Riders intellectual properties—including their trademarks—to his group (Chen died earlier this month). Better to start a new legacy and identity. Since this is Canada and the National Capital Region specifically, the French name is Rouge Et Noir. The stylized white R on the logo is an updated and rebranded nod to the traditional Rough Rider one.

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CFL and Adidas struck a new athletic outfitting deal effective this year from Reebok, which incidentally is owned by Adidas. Reebok these days is heavily focused on the Cross Fit scene and is also leaving another sports league with significant Canadian influence and heritage in the NHL and also giving that to its parent company.

Anyway, the CFL and Adidas this morning presented the eagerly anticipated new gear all 9 CFL teams are wearing. Apparently, the designer of the new British Columbia Lions helmet must be a fan of the USFL's Michigan Panthers. Jerseys OK from them with more black. I wish, though, the Edmonton Eskimos jerseys were left alone, especially with the sleeves and the interlocking double E logo now absent. Hamilton dropped yellow from its V-neck. Not big on Saskatchewan's--will miss seeing silver and blackOttawa's numbering wasn't kept red. Winnipeg reverted to the classic look and ditched the "Shams"-like jerseys (still I liked those). Only Montreal's was fully left alone:

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Would've really liked to cover this season during the course of that. But it was not to be. Anyway, right now the CFL Division championship are taking place today with, as I write this, the East Division Final at TD Stadium (or Frank Clair Stadium, if you prefer) in snowy Ottawa with the Ottawa Redblacks winning over the Edmonton Eskimos in last year's Grey Cup rematch 17-3 at halftime with another Henry Burris to Greg Ellingson Ottawa TD. Expect snow angels made. The West Division Final is later tonight with the BC Lions with Wally Buono back roaming the sidelines against Calgary at McMahon Stadium, a stadium that's surely familiar to us Olympic fans. Being a team that really plays indoors coming into an environment that's going to be cold, they got some experience already in progressively colder climates like last week in Winnipeg because that's when ball control is paramount. Winners head to Toronto for next Sunday's 104th Grey Cup final held for the first time at BMO Field, the Toronto Argonauts' new home that also Toronto FC's home since its 2007 opening. This will serve as Toronto's 48th Grey Cup hosting alltime and will take place during the US Thanksgiving/Black Friday weekend.

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It's going to be the Ottawa RedBlacks and the Calgary Stampeders for the 104th CFL Grey Cup in Toronto's BMO Field that's temporarily expanded to 35,000 seats. It sets the stage between Ottawa's Henry Burris, the CFL's oldest QB, and Calgary's Bo Levi Mitchell, the MVP and enjoying one of the most dominant CFL seasons ever. Dave Dickerson took over during the offseason in Calgary and what a season going 15-2-1. Makes one wonder can the 3-year old Redblacks make it to the summitt this time after last year's heartbreak with their experience. First time since 2002 the Grey Cup will be played in grass. The Grey Cup Festival will feature various fan events leading up to the game, including activities, the alumni luncheon, and autograph sessions. Two new events added to the festival are the Empowering Women and Community Through Sport Summit, and the first official Grey Cup party in support of theLGBT community, hosted byYou Can Playand the law firmBaker & McKenzieat the Striker Sports Bar—Toronto's firstsports barcatering to the city's LGBT community.The New Pornographers,Tokyo Police Club,The Lowest of the Low, andThe Sheepdogswere announced as headlining acts for theSiriusXMConcert Series.

Canadian opera groupThe Tenorswill sing the national anthem, and Canadian singerAlessia Cara (from nearby Brampton) will headline theSiriusXM Kickoff Show.On September 7, 2016, the CFL announced thatOneRepublicwould perform during the Freedom MobileHalftime Show. Ref is Andre Proulx and the game is shown on TSN/RDS in Canada and ESPN 2 in the USA.

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Almost creeped up upon us but the good ole Grey Cup happens tonight up in Ottawa's TD Place Stadium (Frank Clair Stadium) for the 105th time between the Toronto Argonauts and the Calgary Stampeders. Of the two, Calgary is the more recent winner being at 2014 but the Argos have won this not too long ago in 2012 and will look for its league-record 17th alltime in its 23rd appearance. Record-wise 13-4-1 Calgary is far better than 9-9 Toronto despite Toronto actually finishing first in the East Division having missed the postseason last year and Calgary being on a 3-game losing streak to finish the regular season. The Stampeders swept the season series with the Argos in both games and winning convincingly. Shania Twain is the halftime entertainment for the second time with Dave Foxcroft as the game ref (wonder is he related to the Foxcroft basketball ref and businessman?). This Grey Cup fufills a conditional vow of having it in Canada's capital city within the first 4 years of the Ottawa RedBlacks' existence when Ottawa Sports And Entertainment was granted a CFL franchise to replace the Rough Riders and Renegades. This is Ottawa's 7th time hosting.

Speaking of CFL franchises, serious talk is going on that Atlantic Canada will finally get that elusive CFL representation in a few years thanks to a group of Halifax businessmen after the premature demise of the Atlantic Schooners in 1983 with a strong desire of placing a team there in Halifax, Nova Scotia and even out the divisions. Proved credible to CFL brass. May even see the Schooners name finally playing at last given its popularity, but once again stadium issues rear its ugly head.

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Next week, I'll delve much more into the CFL and some Canadian college football that I missed in recent years. But right now as we head into the US Thanksgiving/Black Friday weekend, there's some CFL Grey Cup action coming up this Sunday night up at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium. The Ottawa Redblacks, its third Grey Cup appearance in five years, are facing the Calgary Stampeders. Game is live on TSN and RDS with ESPN2 showing it here Statesside.

The Reklaws are the SiriusXM Canada Kickoff Show pregame entertainment. Alessia Cara does the halftime show.

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Over exactly a year after that last post. I plan to return to that with the videos in the new week. But Calgary returns to hosting for the first time in a decade at McMahon Stadium for the 107th Grey Cup between two of the best CFL teams right now, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (15-3, league-best and franchise record) and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (11-7, third in the West). If they seem unfamiliar to you at this stage lately, that's because these two teams featured at this final CFL stage are the last ones not to win the Grey Cupsince the turn of the millennia, and the only two teams not to win the Grey Cup in the 2010s. So one team's Grey Cup drought will end tonight. Hamilton hasn't won in two decades when star and future CEBL Commissioner and TSN CFL commentator Mike Morreale was still playing as a star player. For Winnipeg it's even longer. Almost three decades now since hoisting it (1990, team was competing in the East Division back then when there was no Montreal representation in the league and before the US teams). Hamilton actually won the season sweep over Winnipeg in both cities this year.

Hamilton's been on a roll lately with sports. The Hamilton Honey Badgers was in the first CEBL Championship Game this August in Saskatoon before falling to the hosts Saskatchewan Rattlers in pro basketball. Hamilton Forge FC in soccer's Canadian Premier League, another nascent Canadian pro league starting this year, won the first CPL title beating Calgary Calvary FC. Can the Ti-Cats keep it going after with the best record this year? Lindsey Kelly with Calgary Stampede Showband will perform O Canada pregame. Referee is Andre Proulx. Game will be on TSN and RDS as usual with ESPN3 in the USA, BT Sport in Britain, MVS in Mexico, and ESPN International everywhere else in the 74 other nations. For those outside these places online, there's TV Everywhere online. TSN Radiostations, including Tiger-Cats flagship CKOC 1150 Hamilton and Winnipeg's CFRW 1290 (replacing game coverage on CJOB 680), will carry the Grey Cup on radio across Canada. Keith Urban will perform at halftime: